D&D 5E Anyone else feeling "meh" about recent 5e releases?

[Retreater]

It's been nearly two years since I've been excited about an official 5e release (Xanathar's in Nov 2017). The next big release, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, was okay. Didn't set the world on fire for me and has gotten little use, but it was alright.

Since then we got Dragon Heist (no interest in that); Ravnica (the MtG setting - blah); Dungeon of the Mad Mage (ho-hum); Stranger Things Starter (no interest); Saltmarsh (reprint - only mildly interested in that); Acquisitions Inc (a parody setting book); and another Starter Set. Other announced books include Rick & Morty (another comedy book), Avernus (edge lord stuff I can't get excited about), and Eberron (blah).

Am I wrong? This just seems blah. If you don't want to use a bizarre setting (Ravnica, Eberron), play levels 1-5 (Dragon Heist, Stranger Things Starter Set, New Starter Set), play comedy (Acquisitions or Rick & Morty) - there's just not much there: a fairly mundane dungeon hack (Mad Mage), a reprint adventure (Saltmarsh).

I just don't know if I can get into Avernus. I don't know a lot about it. I tend to shy away from urban adventures (hence I'm not into Dragon Heist) - and this being set in Baldur's Gate is something I'm not digging, coupled with the trip to hell.

Anyone else experiencing this drought in interest? I'd be happy to purchase stuff that interests me, but I'm just not seeing it. I own most of the other adventures Wizards has put out, and have run them (some of them more than once).

 

[BigBadDM]

Each their own. I actually wasn't excited about Xanathar's -- actually I still don't own it.

Mordenkainen was good. TombofA was even better. Saltmarsh is great.

As for what is on the horizon. Avernus looks great. I am excited for that one. I like the fact they are catering to different niches. Splatbooks tend to get a bit boring and disrupt gameplay mechanics. Xanthar's really needed more play testing for instance.

 

[darjr]

Well... Xanathars might very well be the single most successful book out side of the core.

It’s kinda hard to compete with.

 

[darjr]

I mean ever.

 

[Parmandur]

I think that it is fair to conclude that WotC has determined a large number of people want to play at low levels, in variant settings, comedically, and/or as standard dungeon crawls (most people playing D&D were not not alive when the U series was first published, keep in mind). Remix as desired. They are catering to a wide array of tastes.

 

[Giltonio_Santos]

Maybe with the exception of Dragon Heist (which I don't dislike, properly, but I believe could be a much better product), the books mentioned by the OP were all hits for me. That said, I could use a robust rules expansion by now. I'd gladly trade one of those for a 5e Psionics Handbook or Tome of Magic, for example.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Retreater]

Each their own. I actually wasn't excited about Xanathar's -- actually I still don't own it.

Mordenkainen was good. TombofA was even better. Saltmarsh is great.

As for what is on the horizon. Avernus looks great. I am excited for that one. I like the fact they are catering to different niches. Splatbooks tend to get a bit boring and disrupt gameplay mechanics. Xanthar's really needed more play testing for instance.

Yeah. I agree that Tomb of Annihilation is pretty good, once you get away from the Death Curse plot - which punishes players with a timer that goes against the fun of exploring Chult and experiencing the setting. (On my 3rd run of that campaign, I'm going to change that part.)

 

[DEFCON 1]

If you want PC mechanics, of course Xanathar's will be your go-to. If you don't want adventures, then Heist, Mad Mage and Saltmarsh will be meh. Doubly so for campaign settings like Ravnica or Eberron.

Whether you are excited or meh about the last several 5E releases comes down to "Do I want a PC mechanics focused book?" And if this answer is yes, then you have probably a three year wait following Xanathar's until you get something you actually want.

 

[Parmandur]

Maybe with the exception of Dragon Heist (which I don't dislike, properly, but I believe could be a much better product), the books mentioned by the OP were all hits for me. That said, I could use a robust rules expansion by now. I'd gladly trade one of those for a 5e Psionics Handbook or Tome of Magic, for example.

My prediction: they spend a few years giving out big setting books, then consolidate all of the little rules along with more generic expansions in a follow-up to Xanathar's